Stanthorpe

Stanthorpe has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

As of Feb 2026, Stanthorpe's population is estimated at around 5,459, reflecting an increase of 173 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 5,286. This growth is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 5,420 following examination of ABS ERP data release in June 2024 and validation of 33 new addresses since the Census date. The population density ratio is approximately 170 persons per square kilometer. Stanthorpe's growth rate of 3.3% since the Census compares favorably with its SA4 region at 5.3%, indicating strong fundamentals for future development. Interstate migration contributed approximately 55% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022.

For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data are used. However, these state projections do not provide age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings aligned with ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data for each age cohort. Future population trends anticipate lower quartile growth for regional areas nationally. Aggregated SA2-level projections indicate the suburb of Stanthorpe is expected to grow by 20 persons to reach 5,479 by 2041, reflecting a reduction of approximately 0.4% in total over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Stanthorpe, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Stanthorpe experienced approximately 13 dwelling approvals per year based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 66 homes were approved, with an additional 9 approved in FY-26 to date. On average, 0.6 new residents arrived per newly constructed home over the past five financial years.

This suggests that new construction is meeting or exceeding demand, providing more options for buyers and potentially driving population growth beyond current projections. The average expected construction cost value of new properties was $433,000. In FY-26, Stanthorpe recorded $8.5 million in commercial development approvals, indicating a primarily residential focus in the area. Compared to the Rest of Qld, Stanthorpe shows approximately 57% of the construction activity per person.

Nationally, it ranks around the 40th percentile for areas assessed, suggesting somewhat limited buyer options while strengthening demand for established homes. This lower-than-average national activity reflects the area's maturity and may indicate possible planning constraints. New building activity in Stanthorpe consists of 77.0% standalone homes and 23.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining its traditional low-density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 415 people, reflecting the area's quiet, low-activity development environment. With population expected to remain stable or decline, Stanthorpe may see reduced pressure on housing, potentially creating opportunities for buyers.

Stanthorpe has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified five projects likely affecting this region. Notable projects include 14 Wallangarra Road Student Accommodation, The Avenues Stanthorpe, Stanthorpe Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade, and Stanthorpe Streetscape Project. Below is a list of most relevant projects.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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Employment performance in Stanthorpe has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Stanthorpe has a balanced workforce with representation across white and blue collar jobs in various sectors. The unemployment rate was 5.4% as of September 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 3.8% over the past year, according to AreaSearch data aggregation. There were 2,281 residents employed while the unemployment rate was 1.3% higher than Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%.

Workforce participation in Stanthorpe was lower at 51.2%, compared to Rest of Qld's 65.7%. Census data showed that only 8.0% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. The leading employment industries among residents were health care & social assistance, agriculture, forestry & fishing, and retail trade. Stanthorpe had a particular specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with an employment share 3.0 times the regional level, while mining showed lower representation at 0.6% compared to the regional average of 3.6%.

Over a 12-month period ending September 2025, employment increased by 3.8% and labour force grew by 6.9%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 2.9 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Qld experienced employment growth of 1.7% and labour force growth of 2.1%, with a 0.3 percentage point increase in unemployment rate. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates vary significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Stanthorpe's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.0% over five years and 12.8% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released for financial year ended 30 June 2023, Stanthorpe suburb had median income among taxpayers at $38,665 and average income at $47,217. Both figures are below national averages of $53,146 and $66,593 respectively for Rest of Qld. Based on Wage Price Index growth from July 2023 to September 2025, estimated median income in Stanthorpe is approximately $42,497 and average income is $51,896. Census data from 2021 shows incomes in Stanthorpe fall between 2nd and 7th percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. Predominant income cohort in Stanthorpe spans 33.2% of locals (1,812 people) earning $400 - $799 weekly, differing from broader area where $1,500 - $2,999 category predominates at 31.7%. Economic circumstances indicate financial pressure with 42.7% of households having weekly budgets below $800 after housing costs. Post-housing income ranks at 4th percentile nationally with 85.1% of income remaining.

Stanthorpe is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Stanthorpe's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 88.4% houses and 11.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro Qld's 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Stanthorpe was at 44.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 23.8% and rented ones at 31.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,200, lower than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,655. Median weekly rent in Stanthorpe was $250, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $345. Nationally, Stanthorpe's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Stanthorpe features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 61.1% of all households, including 18.6% couples with children, 31.7% couples without children, and 9.8% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 38.9%, with lone person households at 36.2% and group households at 2.6%. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

Stanthorpe faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area has university qualification rates of 16.3%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 12.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 2.5% and graduate diplomas at 1.5%. Trade and technical skills are prevalent, with 37.2% of residents aged 15 and above holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas at 9.2% and certificates at 28.0%.

Educational participation is notably high, with 25.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.3% in primary education, 8.7% in secondary education, and 1.9% pursuing tertiary education.

Transport servicing is very low compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Stanthorpe has six active public transport stops, all serving buses. Two routes operate collectively offering 22 weekly passenger trips. Residents have limited transport access, with an average distance of 977 meters to the nearest stop. The area is predominantly residential, with outward commuting being common. Cars are the primary mode of transportation (92%), followed by walking (6%). Vehicle ownership averages 1.2 per dwelling, below the regional norm.

In 2021 Census data, 8% of residents worked from home, possibly due to COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency is approximately three trips per day across all routes, resulting in around three weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Stanthorpe is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Stanthorpe faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment conducted in June 2021. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were found to be somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover was extremely low at approximately 46% of the total population (~2,506 people), compared to 52.5% across Rest of Qld and the national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions were arthritis (12.4%) and mental health issues (8.9%), while 59.6% declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.6% across Rest of Qld. Working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. As of June 2021, the area has 32.7% of residents aged 65 and over (1,785 people), which is higher than the 20.4% in Rest of Qld. National rankings for this age group are even higher than the general population.

Stanthorpe ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Stanthorpe's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 88.3% of its population being Australian citizens, born in Australia (83.2%), and speaking English only at home (90.4%). Christianity is the predominant religion in Stanthorpe, accounting for 62.6%, compared to 52.2% across the rest of Queensland. The top three ancestry groups are English (30.0%), Australian (27.2%), and Irish (8.5%).

Notably, Italian ancestry is overrepresented at 8.2% in Stanthorpe, compared to 2.4% regionally, while German ancestry stands at 4.4%, slightly below the regional average of 4.7%. Korean ancestry is also slightly higher in Stanthorpe at 0.4%, compared to 0.2% regionally.

Stanthorpe ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Stanthorpe's median age is 50 years, which is notably older than Rest of Qld's 41 years and significantly higher than the Australian median of 38 years. The age profile indicates that those aged 65-74 are particularly prominent, making up 16.5% of the population, while those aged 5-14 are comparatively smaller at 8.7%, compared to Rest of Qld. This concentration of those aged 65-74 is well above the national average of 9.5%. According to post-2021 Census data, the age group of 15-24 has grown from 8.9% to 11.3%, while the 75-84 cohort has increased from 10.5% to 11.9%. Conversely, the 5-14 cohort has declined from 11.6% to 8.7%, and the 45-54 group has dropped from 11.3% to 10.0%. Demographic modeling suggests that Stanthorpe's age profile will change significantly by 2041. The 85+ age cohort is projected to expand considerably, increasing by 135 people (58%) from 234 to 370. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive 73% of population growth, highlighting demographic aging trends. Meanwhile, both the 35-44 and 65-74 age groups are expected to see reduced numbers.